Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1887-01-01
Andnvers Professors.

AndUvers Professors.
The trial of the five professors OF Ando-
yer Seminary for heresy, which was be-
gun day or two ago in Boston,i is a rather
remarkable one. 1t is similar, in some
respects, to the controversy respecting
DIR. Woodrow's teachings in the Column
bia Theological Seminary, and which re-
suited in the Doctors losing his profess
sorship.
The five Andover professors are all men
OF hne ability, and at least two OF them
nave regulations for learning and ability
which reach beyond the limits OF New
England. They are not being tried for
falling to teach the word Of God, but for
not teaching the Andover creed. This
creed was prepared about a century
ago, and embodes what its authors
thought was the correctChristiand doctrine
the belief in which was deemed necessary
for the advancement Of the Christian re-
ligion, Those who are accepted as teach
ers at the seminary are required to bind
themselves by an oath that they Will
teach this creed, and there is what Is
known as n "Board of Visitors" whose
duty it is to see that they DO teach it.
1t seems that there is a difference OF
opinion whether the articles permit any
llberality OF thought in the Interpretation
| of the Scriptures or not When the creed
was drawn there was in New England
quite a rebellion against the teaching Of
Calvin, which was largely due to the In
iuence OF Edwards. and it is claimed tina
this conflict OF thought is apparent in the
articles of the creed. No doubt the evo-
| luton in religious thought, which has led
the AndoYer professors beyond the creed
| to which they originally subscribed, was
noticeable when the creed was written.
but not so markedly then as now.
The reports of the trial indicate pretty
clearly that the sympathy of the public
is not with the creed. The tendency of
the present time is toward liberty In re-
ligiOus thought, and while the Andover
professors may have failed to follow the
creed closely, it is certain that in public
estimation they will not be held guilty of
any wrong doing.
The trial of these professors for their fail
ure to stick closely to a religious creed of
a century old recalls other curious trials
in the land OF the Puritan In which the
defendants were accused of witchcrafU.
The necessity for the union of the evils
dom of the serpent with the innocence of
the dove" is often strangely illustrated in
the large cities. At the Jefferson Mar.
ket Police Court In New York, the other
day, two brothers, VIII n and Peter
Hutton, made their ap. earance before
Justice Patterson and complained that
they mad been fleeced out of 81 1000. They
were on their way from their wheat farms
in Minnesota to Scotland. 1t was the
old story of The pleasant fellow whom
they could not locate, but who knew them
very well. They were induced to enter
gambling den. In the course
of game one Of the
brothers made a foolish display
Of mis- roll of bills. The bartender rushed
in with a loud order to stop that gam
bling. The money was grabbed by the
confederates, who rushed out with it, and
the Hutton brothers were left to moralize
on the depravity of human nature. ~
thought him an Old friend judge" said
William in speaking oft, ''and he treated
me 80 nicely, didn't he, PeteY' turning TO
his brother. THAT he did, Sandv.v
answered the other. A policeman was
sent with the young men TO identify the
scene of their mshap, but memory failed
to lend them her friendly aid, and they
will land in Scotland with that item of
$1,000 resting on their memories as SOL
emu warning against over confidence in
strangers. .J1egzon
WbepS.l, airing; climates and An
oon,1-s must not -A2 Nm ~'I9 anu Ap-
day 49, sider the final estimates
| tor 1887, President Coleman of the Tax
| Commission proceeded to handle the Dock
Department without gloves for Its extrav-
| agance. In illustration he cited Pier A.
Here, he says, the eXtravaeance was SIM
| ply frightful. He found messengers and
| clerks without number, private secre-
| tary for the President and another for the
| Treasurer, furniture the most luxurious.
! and as many men to run the pier as it
would take to run man-of-war. He said
he would not vote TO issue even $500,00O
| more of dock bonds. The Commissioners
| had already spent $4,000. 900 and the re-
suit of their labor was ridiculous. The
| moral atmosphere of New York appears
TO be tainted 20 an extent quite remark
able. "8Oodleism' should be pronounced
epidemic at once, before it seizes upon the
entire population. 1t appears TO be
spreading rapidlJ.
Gen. Logan was good soldier but not
| shrewd in business matters. Several
years ago he owned farm in Illinois, and
although he was warned that a geologi-
cal survey of the State proved that there
could not be coal on his property, a ras.
cally contractor came along who insisted
to the contrary. He SAID that he would
drill down after coal on the farm and if
he did not find it he would charge nothing.
| If he waq succeasful ha Uas 20 no III